Production of Bladder Stones by Human T Mycoplasmas

Abstract

SINCE the first isolation of human T mycoplasmas¹, their pathogenic role has remained controversial. These organisms, present in the urogenital tract of men and women, are unique among mycoplasmas in possessing urease². They have recently been isolated from other mammals^3–5. Bovine strains have caused experimental pneumonitis in calves⁶ and mastitis in cattle. In the latter experiment, human T mycoplasmas were unable to produce mastitis⁷. Human T mycoplasmas have been implicated as causative agents of non-gonococcal urethritis in men and pelvic inflammatory disease, puerperal infection and reproductive failure in women⁸. Their true relationship to human disease, however, remains unknown, and until now they have never been reported to produce disease in experimental animals. We now report the production of bladder stones during experimental infection of rats by human T mycoplasmas.